[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6232913,"mediaKeyId","3425649-f3d3d2769a85c0b7e9620c8a7a26387e","parentId",3425649,"title","Board approves five‑year forecast, precaution plan and a levy resolution after finance presentation","audioSeconds",1162,"startMs",3767000,"endMs",4929000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3425649-f3d3d2769a85c0b7e9620c8a7a26387e&start=3767&end=4929","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3425649-f3d3d2769a85c0b7e9620c8a7a26387e/thumbnail_3767000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6232913/Ohio/Board-approves-fiveyear-forecast-precaution-plan-and-a-levy-resolution-after-finance-presentation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6232913-828515e864736eab4c5950c1cfa8e7f6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771046713&Signature=k0NYGTysL6VFHTb92cglDnXhMliCkZJBE~lmsAg9OWchWbZXj4bPrjZF1DV7tWt5nX14-aMez0OGVOpx6seaoP~TzMi6KqC5abZvvVM6CuxZ0DERuSoBlNCYQwbxbrWBJ7XCaZGP2WLe~1An4-3U59i-il6zcXV6FegmTBCJE7RFl1-nUBi66TXIDW5v-iJsUOwr8O9bzXcrZgZEoTaQouOnBSCIpHVyHnsMpnf~9el4Tyj7orP47qrW3BX~1tUf8j92K02-Gn6Z81c52rHn6B84c1vgHzGW08JEJPefpqufV-UWG1A91mGroOO1ff5GGPt3GLAll6HVppfRQ7HteQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Garfield Heights School District","date","2025-05-21T15:59:05.68Z","article","The Garfield Heights City Schools Board of Education on May 19 approved the district’s May five‑year forecast and a precaution workbook and narrative submitted to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, after a broad presentation on revenues, expenditures and levy strategy.

District finance staff presented a May statutory forecast that showed projected general‑fund revenue of about $47.3 million and expenditures of about $50.4 million for fiscal 2025, producing an anticipated deficit for the year. Finance staff described the result as a snapshot of current assumptions and variables, and stressed it could change as state budget language or reassessments evolve. \"This forecast that we do today will be completely different tomorrow and the day after,\" the presenter said.

Why it matters: The forecast frames the district’s near‑term choices about staffing, transfers and ballot timing. Finance staff warned that state funding policy and county property reappraisals will drive the district’s revenue mix toward a larger local share, increasing pressure on homeowners and the district’s emergency levies.

What the board voted on: The board approved the five‑year forecast (motion moved by Miss Cox, second by Missus Daniels), accepted the precaution plan required after the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce notification (moved by Miss Thomas, second by Miss Morrison), and passed several financial resolutions including a transfer resolution and establishment of a $0.035 severance fund (both approved on roll call). Each item passed on roll call with each present board member voting yes.

Finance presentation highlights: District staff said 56% of general‑fund revenue comes from the state and 41% from local taxes in the current snapshot, and that residential property dominates the local tax base (about 79% residential). Staff warned that the county reappraisal cycle will lower effective mills and that the district has no continuing operating levies above the 20‑mill floor; the district runs emergency levies that must be renewed periodically.

The presenter said the district could avoid \"hitting the guarantee\" — a scenario in which state funding becomes a fixed guarantee tied to fiscal 2020 levels — but cautioned that state proposals (House Bill 96 language discussed at the hearing) could reduce targeted assistance and change how fair‑funding phase‑in applies. Staff urged the community to consider levy renewal as the primary way to offset the expected local revenue shortfall.

Board members asked about longer‑term options and the cost of placing measures on the ballot; staff answered that non‑presidential primaries are the most expensive and provided rough cost ranges for an election. The board also approved a resolution supporting full implementation of the state Fair School Funding Plan.

Ending: With the forecast and precaution plan approved, district leaders said they would continue public outreach about levy effects and the specific cuts that could be required if a renewal fails. Administrators said they will continue monthly community briefings and release a detailed list of proposed reductions and the items already cut to produce the current forecast.
","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Garfield Heights City Schools - Regular Board Meeting - May 19, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Garfield Heights City Schools Board of Education approved the district’s May statutory five‑year forecast and a precaution workbook on May 19 and passed related financial resolutions, after finance staff detailed projected deficits, the impact of county reappraisals and state funding uncertainty.","taxTitle","Garfield Heights City Schools, School Districts, Ohio","taxId",38842,"location","Ohio","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6232918,"Garfield Heights district outlines staffing priorities, retention steps after levy loss",1090,1778000,2868000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3425649-f3d3d2769a85c0b7e9620c8a7a26387e&start=1778&end=2868","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3425649-f3d3d2769a85c0b7e9620c8a7a26387e/thumbnail_1778000.jpg","/articles/6232918/Ohio/Garfield-Heights-district-outlines-staffing-priorities-retention-steps-after-levy-loss","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6232918-086000ee4e6d8b9172aa3c9f1519aaf2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771046713&Signature=YT5mEiaZu36CIhcdHjWZixJbhJgls1DwAQNhKhkDrpVL0yb0BxZqATRoTPNn5jCkmrOKOBmV8z1n8mLU3oErwwGyD73XAAP4IEnOhvn-F~tUKFyXXg3GZKcXjS44jLTiw0G9mEMjrDmbRBoNS2eFttdjVFrVBhhShAB-nksZzqwBAIvIVvyZiwXMyLHJmZ6cy3XKmMSC3HrLy03MmxFKYQEsymrNsWye~EdNVQC1y7p75gO98Jl-RTQI9c2wrnEfbSGEbVZlrAKiu~xF6ds7M4sIishCT3gd8NZD3bfBGxCa-G1zk88GTmLUEntavpwkzkWOd1wHJ3baZD94XCqLxw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Employee services director Tasha Pettigrew presented a human resources update to the Garfield Heights City Schools Board of Education on May 19, describing new evaluation tools, retention initiatives and immediate staffing priorities after the district’s recent levy defeat.

The presentation outlined programs the district has launched to retain employees, reduce absenteeism and “right‑size” staffing. \"Everyone now has a performance evaluation tool to see how they're doing to continue to grow,\" Pettigrew said, describing a new supervisor evaluation plus a separate self‑evaluation for employees.

Why it matters: The district must match staff levels to falling enrollment and reduced revenue while trying to keep core services. Pettigrew and board members framed the measures as efforts to protect instruction and support employees as the administration trims positions the district will not replace.

Pettigrew described retention steps used during the 2024–25 school year: monthly department spotlights, a November service awards program for multi‑year employees, wellness and retirement planning events, biometric screenings offered through a vendor, and an attendance incentive program. She said the district moved substitute staffing from one agency to another during the year and showed month‑by‑month absence hours as evidence of modest improvement.

She gave a snapshot of vacancies and recent separations as of the meeting: 252 certified teachers, \"26\" classified workers and about 120 non‑union employees as reported in the presentation; eight open teacher positions (priority: intervention specialists, then core secondary subjects; encores/electives last), eight open non‑certified positions mainly in transportation and food service, four administrative openings (including a high school principal), 21 teacher/administrator resignations to date and 13 retirements. Pettigrew said the district would not replace every departing role and called the approach \"priority staffing.\"

Board members pressed for detail about the HR survey Pettigrew referenced. Board member Miss Thomas asked whether the 52 survey responses were distributed \"to teachers or to everyone,\" and Pettigrew said the survey was sent to all district employees. Pettigrew also said many new hires gave the district high marks during one‑on‑one new‑employee check‑ins.

Pettigrew described goals for 2025–26 that include retaining 95% of staff, creating an aspiring leaders program and succession plans for school secretaries and other key positions. She said the district plans an HR newsletter, improved website content and continued work with teaching and learning on professional development.

On absenteeism, Pettigrew presented monthly hours of absence as reported in district records and said May showed an improvement from the prior year; she attributed part of the trend to the change in the substitute vendor and to targeted incentives. She cautioned the board that there is \"lots of work to do,\" but said current initiatives have produced incremental gains.

The presentation was informational; the board asked questions but did not adopt policy changes during the meeting. The HR report concluded with acknowledgments of retirees and a commitment to continue exit interviews with departing staff.

Ending: Pettigrew closed by listing next‑year HR goals and telling the board the department will share more data and proposals as staffing decisions move from planning to implementation.
","Employee services director Tasha Pettigrew presented a human resources update to the Garfield Heights City Schools Board of Education on May 19, outlining new evaluation tools, retention and wellness programs and a staffing priority plan after the recent levy loss.","actionData","errors"]

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Board approves five‑year forecast, precaution plan and a levy resolution after finance presentation

Garfield Heights district outlines staffing priorities, retention steps after levy loss